‘I love this team' was the simple response of Austria Coach Werner Sallomon in the wake of watching his team take gold and being crowned champions of U20 European Championship Men 2010 Division B on home soil after a hard fought 71-66 win against Sweden.
Finishing top of the podium after a thrilling and highly entertaining final game was the perfect conclusion to a terrific tournament.
Austrian ace Rasid Mahalbasic has paid tribute to the thousand supporters who turned out in Oberwart to cheer the team to promotion after the hosts clinched their place in Division A of the U20 European Championship Men.
The center who is averaging a near double-double during the tournament also fired a warning to head coach Werner Sallomon ahead of the final when gold is up for grabs.
It was party time in Oberwart at the U20 European Championship Men 2010 Division B after Sweden and home town favourites Austria, in front of 1.000 enthusiastic fans, celebrated their new status after gaining promotion to Division A with wins over Poland and Bulgaria.
The hosts were thrilled and also relieved after getting past a strong Bulgaria team 76-71 with a superb 13-0 start to the second half very much the key as was their containment of Bulgarian star Aleksandar Georgiev who could only muster ten points.
Austria Head Coach Werner Sallomon has eased any fears of missing out on promotion in the wake of their defeat against Poland by insisting he is still happy with the performances of his players and can't wait for tomorrows semi-final game which could see the team promoted to Division A.
The last day of the Qualifying Round was certainly a memorable one for Poland, Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden who are all now just one win away from Division A and will play in the promotion games this Friday. The biggest losers are Great Britain who were edged out in a three-way tie in Group F and paying a heavy price for their 20 point loss by Austria earlier in the tournament.
Austria have been hoping to having a shot at promotion to Division A in their home tournament from the start.
Having the reigning U20 European Championship MVP Rasid Mahalbasic back for another campaign and motivated crowds in Oberwart and Güssing the big goal seemed possible from the start.
During the penultimate games of the Qualifying Round at the U20 European Championship Men 2010 Division B, the headline makers were the Great Britain double act of Wil Neighbour and Ovie Soko who were at it again as they combined for a stunning 51 points to help their team inflict a first loss of the tournament on Poland.
Great Britain had a sensational second quarter when they tore the Polish defence apart and racked up a massive 37 points in their 98-89 win.
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